By Todd Northrop
Two and a half months into 2019, we still don't have a Powerball jackpot winner.
But it's not for a lack of trying: The multi-state lottery game now features a jackpot worth a half-billion dollars.
The last person to win the game was David Johnson, a Brooklyn, New York truck driver, who claimed a $298.3 million jackpot from the Dec. 26, 2018 drawing.
After that drawing, the Powerball jackpot reset to $40 million and continued to rollover for 22 consecutive drawings, building it up to the massive $495 million grand prize set for this Saturday night.
The lump-sum cash option is a staggering $300.2 million.
It's the largest Powerball jackpot since Oct. 27, 2018, when a $687.8 Million Powerball jackpot was split by two tickets sold in Iowa and New York. The Iowa winner from a single mom from Redfield, Iowa, who happened to buy a ticket as she was picking up a slice of pizza and coffee at a local store. The New York winner is a retired federal government employee who won after playing the same six lottery numbers for 25 years.
The annuity and cash jackpot values are the 14th- and 15th-largest amounts, respectively, ever recorded in US lottery history. (See top 25 annuity and cash values below.)
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Powerball jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was on January 13, 2016, when three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee shared a $1.6 billion grand prize. The Florida and Tennessee winners claimed their prizes quickly, but the California winner waited about six months to claim their share.
The winning numbers for Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2019 were 18, 36, 45, 47, and 69, with Powerball number 14. The Power Play number was 3.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Wednesday, 3 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Florida and 2 from New York.
Only the ticket sold in Florida was purchased with the Power Play option, doubling their prize to $2 million.
Power Play is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
The California prize pool for second prize was a whopping $2,240,087 this drawing. Because nobody won second prize in California, that cash will roll into Saturday's drawing and increase into a larger prize, based upon the amount of sales recorded this week — creating a kind of secondary jackpot waiting to be won by a California player.
Across the nation, 30 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000. Of those tickets, 8 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 8 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $12,722 this drawing.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $46.8 million from its previous amount of $448.2 million. The cash value was raised by $28.5 million from its previous amount of $271.7 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, second-prize winners have their prizes automatically doubled to $2 million, while all other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number drawn that evening. All prize payout amounts, including Power Play multipied prizes, can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
Powerball is played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Saturday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 14th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 - South Carolina
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $543 million, Jul. 24, 2018 - California
- Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $533 million, Mar. 30, 2018 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $495 million, Mar. 16, 2019 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
- Powerball: $456.7 million, Mar. 17, 2018 - Pennsylvania
- Mega Millions: $451 million, Jan. 5, 2018 - Florida
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $447.8 million, Jun. 10, 2017 - California
- Powerball: $435.3 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Indiana
- Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
- Mega Millions: $425 million, Jan. 1, 2019 - New York
- Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 16
- Mega Millions: 9
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
The upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 15th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $324 million cash, Mar. 30, 2018 ($533 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $320.5 million cash, Jul. 24, 2018 ($543 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $300.2 million cash, Mar. 16, 2019 ($495 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $281.9 million cash, Jan. 5, 2018 ($451 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $279.1 million cash, Jun. 10, 2017 ($447.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $273.9 million cash, Mar. 17, 2018 ($456.7 million annuity) - Pennsylvania
- Powerball: $263.5 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($435.3 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $254.6 million cash, Jan. 1, 2019 ($425 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $246.5 million cash, Aug. 11, 2017 ($393 million annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 15
- Mega Millions: 10
I'm in it to win it! $$$$$$$$$$$$
Thanks to the Lottery Post Staff for the good news about California's second place award. That would be a nice consolation prize but not the amount I am aiming at.
For all States that do not tax Lottery winnings the ATTH After Tax Take Home= $189,000,000.00
I only use the Annuity and Cash Lump Sum to calculate the ATTH amount.
I plan to say NO to the Media Availability and the Photo Celebrity. I will give the Lottery a written statement for the Press. I will mention Lottery Post.com, Todd Northrop and staff. USAMega.com it's Sister site. I will reveal my nickname, music*.
I am dreaming!
Yes, there were two $1 mil 5 of 5 tickets sold in Staten Island, NY, According to the New York State Lottery website results for Power Ball, one of the tickets was a Quick Pick and the other was Play It Again.
"PLAY IT AGAIN: Give your ticket to a retailer within 30 days to purchase an identical ticket for the next drawing."
BOTH of the tickets were purchased at the same location.
Whoever won must have purchased a Quick Pick ticket and then did the Play It Again so if they won the jackpot and had to split it with other winners, they would end up with two shares of the pot.
POWERBALL + NO POWERPLAY
0 winners of $448 Million.
2 second-prize winners of $1 Million. Winning tickets sold in NY.
Winning Counties: RICHMOND
Retailer Locations:
STOP & SHOP #2512, 1441 RICHMOND AVE, STATEN ISLAND (QUICK PICK)
STOP & SHOP #2512, 1441 RICHMOND AVE, STATEN ISLAND (PLAY IT AGAIN)
Thanks Todd for posting the position of this upcoming jackpot.
Anybody else see the irony here??? In 14th place on Pi day 3.14!
Who will put their City and State on the map Saturday night? I believe it is best to let the media hysteria die down before claiming your prize. Unless you want your 15 minutes of fame.
Good Luck and Happy Fortune hunting to all LP Members who will play PB!
Cheers 2 a most curious Saturday night
If not won Saturday am predicting a Palindrome for the next Jackpot...just haven't figured out which one! LOL
$555 and it will be split by Brian Nairb and Sandra Ardnas.
Clever Palindrome there.
I went out today and bought a $5 Super Pack.
1 Mega, 1 Power Ball and 1 NY Lotto.
I would be happy with the cool million myself!-weshar75
Whoever wins it I hope they are in an anonymous state......it's pretty entertaining watching so many people go dizzy with curiosity.
Have not played the Powerball since October. This week, I am going to donate $2 to California's bloated and mismanaged education system for a chance at those millions. Super Lotto is up to 27 million so I might chip in extra buck.
Good luck everyone!
Don't forget Bob Otto.
For those of us that don't play every drawing, we expect the ad prize of one or the other game to reach $1/2 billion and then determine when we should buy a ticket. It's almost getting to be discuss the jackpot, claiming, ducks, spending winnings, etc. wait a month or two and repeat.
*forgot "congrats to the anonymous winners"
Coincidentally, powerball was at the previous amt. The same time something happened in the current events. go figure, yet, a lot of people are amazed about this lottery but no one really knows.
That's some LEVEL headed thinking there.
I have my automobile selection. It is a 2019 BMW 3 Series 330i RWD 4D Sedan for $50,000.00
My winning ticket will be safely inside a Bank's Safety Deposit Box while I get my ducks in a row, and let the media hysteria die down. Here in CA I have one year to claim.
What to Do If You Win the Jackpot:
https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/smart-ideas/what-to-do-when-you-win-the-lottery
Here's the tax bill you'll face if you hit the $495 million Powerball Jackpot:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/13/heres-the-tax-bill-if-you-hit-the-448-million-powerball-jackpot.html
1959-ford-hardtop-convertible-restored
When I first read those other names, I was reminded of that old joke: Didja hear the one about the dyslexic atheist? He didn't believe in Dog.
BTW, my real name is Mike Ekim.
Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check and check.
Thanks raven
One item that I never have come across is when the lottery winner is retired. How a retired winner should protect his or her winnings. I would say, "I am retired. I cannot get a job to replace these funds if I give it all away." Charity and gift giving are at the bottom of my list of things to do.
I will get my ducks all lined up and grow into my wealth. He or She who has the gold makes the rules.
The Shark from Shark Tank named Barbara CorCoran said, "She sold her business for $66 million. She immediately paid her taxes." She placed all after-tax monies into a savings account in Citi Bank.
I will consult with my CPA about paying taxes immediately after getting the check.
Barbara also mentioned that everybody came to her with their $10,000.00 problem.
Just read a story, don't know if it is true of why a female waited so long to collect on her massive MM win in SC. It didn't specify her age though.
Rivkin Radler LLP press release.
What does her gender have to do with it? Maybe you meant to say woman.
Read the article, I didn't write it.
9 figures is cool and all but I'll silently take California 5+0 win for over 2.5 Million
What are the chances the jackpot is bumped?
glad to see we can agree on somethings, Dpoly1
why any fool would waste $50k on a snooty bmw is beyond me, specially when thars plenty of worthy toys to be had
That article gives an indirect slam against non-anonymity. Safety. Keep chipping away. Great job.
That woman opened the can of worms by even agreeing to an interview, IMO. Now that her charities are named, someone might out her that is if she does it alone versus a trust or some other safeguard for her name.
The info was released through the law firm. Charities accept anonymous donations all the time. I am sure a trust or several trusts were set up first. That attorney seems to know his job.
Whoever she is apparently she wants her five minutes of fame regardless of the
captain obvious "know-it-all" is telling you.
still laughing at that pic. fabulous!
noise-gate, Great photo and good advice. Lottery dreaming is what most of us do when we buy a ticket. It only takes one ticket to win.
Why a Beamer? BMW. I am at that age where I am looking for comfort when I travel the roads and highways of California. I want to be relaxed when I reach my destinations.
As the sole jackpot winner tonight here in CA I will win $190,000,000.00 That is after all taxes are paid. Although I expect to pay more taxes on the income that will be generated by investments.
I will hire a Certified Financial Adviser, a CFP who will be my quarterback and help me locate the other team members. Legal, Accounting, Media relations, and more.
My response to you Music was not intended to disrespect. I just find you a revealing person. Meaning you upfront with what you going to do with What & where. That is not necessarily a bad thing. At times it can be good, at least for me, especially if l am “ going for it” depending on what “ it” is.
Other times, it’s good to keep your cards close to your chest, so to speak. When it comes to playing and winning- that’s what dreams are made of..... According to Van Halen.
When I win I'll have my lawyer put out a release referring to me as a short, fat Asian woman who bought the ticket just after relocating from San Francisco specifically because none of those things is true. Hopefully that will keep the vast majority of people from ever considering that I'm the winner. Perhaps the release will also include a short list of charities that all my friends know I wouldn't give a dime to.
Much like the lawyer from Long Island is trying to convince people in Simpsonville that none of their neighbors won the lottery, any information I release will include the goal of pointing the spotlight away from me.
but I'd add a couple items to that descript IE : born in America and a Republican
Very high
I am ready to win the Powerball tonight !!!
Not with the numbers that came out tonight. I wonder if we'll see a mid-day jump by Wednesday.
I believe that Power Ball will roll over tonight. It might be a long night though.
All the losers in tonight's PB want a roll over for another chance to strike it rich!
It rolled and rolled early!
Mea Culpa. I guessed wrong. This is not a long night after all. I apologize.
For those players who play in States that do not tax winnings the amount we can work with is
$211,050,000.00 Cash Lump Sum After Tax Take Home.
I can get that number by multiplying the Lump Sum $355,000,000.00 by .63
355 X .63 = $211,050,000.00
I just viewed Michael W. Boone on YouTube. His Financial record is posted at the last part of the interview. Client retention is one of those qualities that is measured.
Music, why would you allow your CFP to pick your other team members? Those assessments should be independently done, especially your counsel.
"Michael W. Boone"
Per the website . . .
"By spreading your investments across different kinds of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents, your portfolio is able to participate in a variety of market sectors while seeking to reduce overall risk. While no single investment approach can guarantee success, asset allocation can temper the ups and downs of the market and enhance portfolio returns."
Another strategy would be to do your own research, such as Morningstar, and select your own roller coaster rides. But that would require taking initiative and personal responsibility . . as compared to having someone else to blame.